Houston-area hospital warns patients about privacy breach

IntraCare North Hospital, a 68-bed psychiatric hospital in northwest Harris County, is notifying 741 patients that their personal health information may have been breached by a former employee, hospital officials announced Tuesday.

Several patients have reported that false income tax returns were filed using their personal data, said John D. Redd, spokesman for the hospital at 1120 Cypress Station Dr.

“Our understanding is that this person had a binder with information, and we don’t know much of that information was used for criminal activity, and how much (personal information) was there,” he said.

The former employee had access to personal information of patients who received hospital services before August 18, 2011.

Found in the employee’s possession were forms with personal information that included the names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers of patients, along with insurance information, hospital officials said. The woman worked as intake coordinator at the hospital from March 15-Aug. 18, 2011.

The hospital learned of the potential breach of personal information on April 18.

“At the time of the employee’s termination, it was unknown by IntraCare North Hospital that the employee had engaged in the unauthorized release of patients’ protected information,” the release states. “A representative of the hospital was alerted about this occurrence by the police authority.”

The hospital is urging former patients to take immediate steps to protect themselves in light of the breach. The measures include:

“IntraCare North Hospital understands the importance of safeguarding our patients’ personal information and takes that responsibility very seriously,” Hospital Administrator Robert Yates stated in the media release. “We will do all we can to work with our patients whose personal information may have been compromised and help them work through the process.

“We regret that this incident has occurred, and we are committed to preventing such occurrences in the future. We appreciate our patients support during this time.”